Dynamic realization games in newsvendor inventory centralization

Consider a set N of n (> 1) stores with single-item and single-period nondeterministic demands like in a classic newsvendor setting with holding and penalty costs only. Assume a risk-pooling single-warehouse centralized inventory ordering option. Allocation of costs in the centralized inventory ordering corresponds to modelling it as a cooperative cost game whose players are the stores. It has been shown that when holding and penalty costs are identical for all subsets of stores, the game based on optimal expected costs has a non empty core (Hartman et al. 2000, Games Econ Behav 31:26–49; Muller et al. 2002, Games Econ Behav 38:118–126). In this paper we examine a related inventory centralization game based on demand realizations that has, in general, an empty core even with identical penalty and holding costs (Hartman and Dror 2005, IIE Trans Scheduling Logistics 37:93–107). We propose a repeated cost allocation scheme for dynamic realization games based on allocation processes introduced by Lehrer (2002a, Int J Game Theor 31:341–351). We prove that the cost subsequences of the dynamic realization game process, based on Lehrer’s rules, converge almost surely to either a least square value or the core of the expected game. We extend the above results to more general dynamic cost games and relax the independence hypothesis of the sequence of players’ demands at different stages.     

云资源提供商的合作博弈模型与收益分配研究

云计算是目前国际上诸如信息科学与管理科学中的热点研究课题,其中云资源提供商是构建云平台的基本单元。目前,对云资源提供商进行合理的收益分配机制设计是提升云平台运营能力的一个关键因素。本文建立了一个由多个云资源提供商组成的合作博弈模型,分析了该合作博弈的超可加性和核心非空性,并给出了云资源提供商及其联盟的收益分配方案:核心和Shapley值。通过一些数值算例说明了云资源提供商合作博弈的非凸性,并表明了如何计算这个合作博弈的核心和Shapley值,为云资源提供商设计了一种合理的收益分配机制。本文的结果为研究IaaS(基础设施即服务)云资源提供商的合作行为提供了新的理论依据。     

Linear and symmetric allocation methods for partially defined cooperative games

A partially defined cooperative game is a coalition function form game in which some of the coalitional worths are not known. An application would be cost allocation of a joint project among so many players that the determination of all coalitional worths is prohibitive. This paper generalizes the concept of the Shapley value for cooperative games to the class of partially defined cooperative games. Several allocation method characterization theorems are given utilizing linearity, symmetry, formulation independence, subsidy freedom, and monotonicity properties. Whether a value exists or is unique depends crucially on the class of games under consideration. Received June 1996/Revised August 2001     

具有超图合作结构的赋权Position值

具有超图交流结构的可转移效用合作对策,也称为超图对策,它由一个三元组(N,v,H)所组成,其中(N,H)是一个可转移效用对策(简称TU-对策),而(N,H)是一个超图(超网络)。在超图对策中,除Myerson值(Myerson)外,Position值(Meessen)是另一个重要的分配规则。该模型要求把超图结构中每条超边Shapley的值平均分配给它所包含的点,而不考虑每个点的交流能力或合作水平。本文引入超图结构中点的度值来度量每条超边中每个点的交流能力或合作水平,并结合Haeringer提出用于推广Shapley值的权重系统,并由此定义了具有超图合作结构的赋权Position值。我们证明了具有超图合作结构的赋权Position值可以由“分支有效性”、“冗余超边性”、“超边可分解性”、“拟可加性”、“弱积极性”和“弱能转换”六个性质所唯一确定,并且发现参与者获得的支付随其度值的增加而增加,参与者分摊的成本随其度值的增加而降低。     

Information market games

In this paper information markets with perfect patent protection and only one initial owner of the information are studied by means of cooperative game theory. To each information market of this type a cooperative game with sidepayments is constructed. These cooperative games are called information (market) games. The set of all information games with fixed player set is a cone in the set of all cooperative games with the same player set. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given in order that a cooperative game is an information game. The core of this kind of games is not empty and is also the minimal subsolution of the game. The core is the image of an (n-1)-dimensional hypercube under an affine transformation, (= hyperparallellopiped), the nucleolus and -value coincide with the center of the core. The Shapley value is computed and may lie inside or outside the core. The Shapley value coincides with the nucleolus and the -value if and only if the information game is convex. In this case the core is also a stable set.     

The Compromise Value for Cooperative Games with Random Payoffs

This paper introduces and studies the compromise value for cooperative games with random payoffs, that is, for cooperative games where the payoff to a coalition of players is a random variable. This value is a compromise between utopia payoffs and minimal rights and its definition is based on the compromise value for NTU games and the τ-value for TU games. It is shown that the nonempty core of a cooperative game with random payoffs is bounded by the utopia payoffs and the minimal rights. Consequently, for such games the compromise value exists. Further, we show that the compromise value of a cooperative game with random payoffs coincides with the τ-value of a related TU game if the players have a certain type of preferences. Finally, the compromise value and the marginal value, which is defined as the average of the marginal vectors, coincide on the class of two-person games. This results in a characterization of the compromise value for two-person games.I thank Peter Borm, Ruud Hendrickx and two anonymous referees for their valuable comments.     

区间合作对策核心存在性的进一步讨论

区间合作对策,是研究当联盟收益值为区间数情形时如何进行合理收益分配的数学模型。近年来,其解的存在性与合理性等问题引起了国内外专家的广泛关注。区间核心,是区间合作对策中一个非常稳定的集值解概念。本文首先针对区间核心的存在性进行深入的讨论,通过引入强非均衡,极小强均衡,模单调等概念,从不同角度给出判别区间核心存在性的充分条件。其次,通过引入相关参数,定义了广义区间核心,并给出定理讨论了区间核心与广义区间核心的存在关系。本文的结论将为进一步推动区间合作对策的发展,为解决区间不确定情形下的收益分配问题奠定理论基础。     

Weighted allocation rules for standard fixed tree games

In this paper we consider standard fixed tree games, for which each vertex unequal to the root is inhabited by exactly one player. We present two weighted allocation rules, the weighted down-home allocation and the weighted neighbour-home allocation, both inspired by the painting story in Maschler et al. (1995) . We show, in a constructive way, that the core equals both the set of weighted down-home allocations and the set of weighted neighbour allocations. Since every weighted down-home allocation specifies a weighted Shapley value (Kalai and Samet (1988)) in a natural way, and vice versa, our results provide an alternative proof of the fact that the core of a standard fixed tree game equals the set of weighted Shapley values. The class of weighted neighbour allocations is a generalization of the nucleolus, in the sense that the latter is in this class as the special member where players have all equal weights.     

Cooperative game analysis of retail space-exchange problems

We analyze retail space-exchange problems where two or more retailers exchange their excess retail spaces to improve the utilization of their space resource. We first investigate the two-retailer space exchange problem. In order to entice both retailers with different bargaining powers to exchange their spaces, we use the generalized Nash bargaining scheme to allocate the total profit surplus between the two retailers. Next, we consider the space-exchange problem involving three or more retailers, and construct a cooperative game in characteristic function form. We show that the game is essential and superadditive, and also prove that the core is non-empty. Moreover, in order to find a unique allocation scheme that ensures the stability of the grand coalition, we propose a new approach to compute a weighted Shapley value that satisfies the core conditions and also reflects retailers’ bargaining powers. Our analysis indicates that the space exchange by more retailers can result in a higher system-wide profit surplus and thus a higher allocation to each retailer under a fair scheme.     

Inheritance of properties in communication situations

In this paper we consider cooperative games in which the possibilities for cooperation between the players are restricted because communication between the players is restricted. The bilateral communication possibilities are modeled by means of a (communication) graph. We are interested in how the communication restrictions influence the game. In particular, we investigate what conditions on the communication graph guarantee that certain appealing properties of the original game are inherited by the graph-restricted game, the game that arises once the communication restrictions are taken into account. We study inheritance of the following properties: average convexity, inclusion of the Shapley value in the core, inclusion of the Shapley values of a game and all its subgames in the corresponding cores, existence of a population monotonic allocation scheme, and the property that the extended Shapley value is a population monotonic allocation scheme. Received May 1998/Revised version January 2000     

On implementation via demand commitment games

A simple version of the Demand Commitment Game is shown to implement the Shapley value as the unique subgame perfect equilibrium outcome for any n-person characteristic function game. This improves upon previous models devoted to this implementation problem in terms of one or more of the following: a) the range of characteristic function games addressed, b) the simplicity of the underlying noncooperative game (it is a finite horizon game where individuals make demands and form coalitions rather than make comprehensive allocation proposals and c) the general acceptability of the noncooperative equilibrium concept. A complete characterization of an equilibrium strategy generating the Shapley value outcomes is provided. Furthermore, for 3 player games, it is shown that the Demand Commitment Game can implement the core for games which need not be convex but have cores with nonempty interiors. Received March 1995/Final version February 1997     

Approximating the least core value and least core of cooperative games with supermodular costs

We study the approximation of the least core value and the least core of supermodular cost cooperative games. We provide a framework for approximation based on oracles that approximately determine maximally violated constraints. This framework yields a 3-approximation algorithm for computing the least core value of supermodular cost cooperative games, and a polynomial-time algorithm for computing a cost allocation in the 2-approximate least core of these games. This approximation framework extends naturally to submodular profit cooperative games. For scheduling games, a special class of supermodular cost cooperative games, we give a fully polynomial-time approximation scheme for computing the least core value. For matroid profit games, a special class of submodular profit cooperative games, we give exact polynomial-time algorithms for computing the least core value as well as a least core cost allocation.     

基于Choquet积分形式的模糊联盟核心

在具有联盟结构的合作对策中,针对局中人以某种程度参与到合作中的情况,研究了模糊联盟结构的合作对策的收益分配问题。首先,定义了具有模糊联盟结构的合作对策及相关概念。其次,定义了Choquet积分形式的模糊联盟核心,提出了该核心与联盟核心之间的关系,对于强凸联盟对策,证明Choquet积分形式的模糊Owen值属于其所对应的模糊联盟核心。最后通过算例,对该分配模型的可行性进行分析。     

Avoiding unfairness of Owen allocations in linear production processes

This paper deals with cooperation situations in linear production problems in which a set of goods are to be produced from a set of resources so that a certain benefit function is maximized, assuming that resources not used in the production plan have no value by themselves. The Owen set is a well-known solution rule for the class of linear production processes. Despite their stability properties, Owen allocations might give null payoff to players that are necessary for optimal production plans. This paper shows that, in general, the aforementioned drawback cannot be avoided allowing only allocations within the core of the cooperative game associated to the original linear production process, and therefore a new solution set named EOwen is introduced. For any player whose resources are needed in at least one optimal production plan, the EOwen set contains at least one allocation that assigns a strictly positive payoff to such player.     

On the computation of the nucleolus of a cooperative game

We consider classes of cooperative games. We show that we can efficiently compute an allocation in the intersection of the prekernel and the least core of the game if we can efficiently compute the minimum excess for any given allocation. In the case where the prekernel of the game contains exactly one core vector, our algorithm computes the nucleolus of the game. This generalizes both a recent result by Kuipers on the computation of the nucleolus for convex games and a classical result by Megiddo on the nucleolus of standard tree games to classes of more general minimum cost spanning tree games. Our algorithm is based on the ellipsoid method and Maschler's scheme for approximating the prekernel. Received February 2000/Final version April 2001     

Cores and large cores when population varies

In a TU cooperative game with populationN, a monotonic core allocation allocates each surplusv (S) among the agents of coalitionS in such a way that agenti's share never decreases when the coalition to which he belongs expands.We investigate the property of largeness (Sharkey [1982]) for monotonic cores. We show the following result. Given a convex TU game and an upper bound on each agent' share in each coalition containing him, if the upper bound depends only upon the size of the coalition and varies monotonically as the size increases, then there exists a monotonic core allocation meeting this system of upper bounds. We apply this result to the provision of a public good problem.     

一种资源投入不确定情形下的合作博弈形式及收益分配策略

首先,将经典合作博弈进行扩展,提出了一类模糊联盟合作博弈的通用形式,涵盖常见三种模糊联盟合作博弈,即多线性扩展博弈、比例模糊博弈与Choquet积分模糊博弈.比例模糊博弈、Choquet积分模糊博弈的Shapley值均可以作为一种特定形式下模糊联盟合作博弈的收益分配策略,但是对于多线性扩展博弈的Shapley值一直关注较少,因此利用经典Shapley值构造出多线性扩展博弈的Shapley值,以此作为一种收益分配策略.最后,通过实例分析了常见三类模糊联盟合作博弈的形式及其对应的分配策略,分析收益最大的模糊联盟合作对策形式及最优分配策略,为不确定情形下的合作问题提供了一定的收益分配依据.     

The sigma-core of a cooperative game

This paper is concerned with the existence of (σ-additive) measures in the core of a cooperative game. The main theorem shows, for a capacityu on the Borel sets of a metric space, that to each additive set function, majorized byu and agreeing withu on a system of closed sets, there exists a measure having these same properties. This theorem is applied, in combination with known core theorems, to the case of a cooperative game defined on the Borel sets of a metric space and whose conjugate is a capacity.     

双边配给问题的Shapley解及其在博物馆通票问题中的应用

双边配给问题描述了现实生活中一类带有二部图结构的稀缺资源配置问题, 例如, 在自然灾害期间救援物资的配给; 电力和天然气等自然资源按需分配; 高校引进人才调配等。本文通过求解线性规划, 并从联盟边际贡献的角度出发定义了双边配给问题的一个Shapley解。之后, 通过合作对策模型和解的公理化方法说明新解的合理性。首先, 建立双边配给问题的合作对策模型, 论证了新解与双边配给合作对策的Shapley值一致; 其次, 证明了Shapley解是唯一满足优先一致性的有效配给方案。最后, 将Shapley解应用于博物馆通票问题的研究, 探讨了博物馆合作制定通票后所得单票和通票收益的分配方式。     

双边配给问题的Shapley解及其在博物馆通票问题中的应用

双边配给问题描述了现实生活中一类带有二部图结构的稀缺资源配置问题, 例如, 在自然灾害期间救援物资的配给; 电力和天然气等自然资源按需分配; 高校引进人才调配等。本文通过求解线性规划, 并从联盟边际贡献的角度出发定义了双边配给问题的一个Shapley解。之后, 通过合作对策模型和解的公理化方法说明新解的合理性。首先, 建立双边配给问题的合作对策模型, 论证了新解与双边配给合作对策的Shapley值一致; 其次, 证明了Shapley解是唯一满足优先一致性的有效配给方案。最后, 将Shapley解应用于博物馆通票问题的研究, 探讨了博物馆合作制定通票后所得单票和通票收益的分配方式。